At a time when India?s engagement with celebrity culture is at a new peak, publicity managers could learn much from Shah Rukh Khan. Not only does one of India?s biggest stars have a point of view, but knows how to package it with charm, candour and an endearing vulnerability. At the Express Adda in Mumbai, (the first in the series was held last month in Delhi with Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP), he strode into Olive Bar and Kitchen, the venue of the event, asking to be fed first as he was hungry. Chivas was the associate event partner. Here was a mighty star, billed as the Badshah of Bollywood, showing how real he could be. Soon after, he was all fun and games. When Editor-in-Chief of The Express Group, Shekhar Gupta, started the conversation with him, hinting at the S words in SRK?s life ? Sourav Ganguly, Shoaib Akhtar, even Salman Khan ? the actor got into an enjoyable repartee with Gupta, saying that S also stood for Shekhar Gupta.
In moments, he had Gupta?s co-panelist and editor of Screen, Priyanka Sinha Jha, and the audience nodding their heads as he spoke. He pointed out to filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra saying, ?Main tumhari chhati pe haath rakh ke kasam khaata hoon ki iske baad main kabhi smoke nahin karoonga. (I swear by you that I will never smoke again).? Everyone roared with laughter. When actor Poonam Dhillon asked him how much truth celebrities speak, he said he was one of the biggest liars around.
It was easy for the audience to follow Khan?s conversational cues. His candidness and wit opened the floodgates to a very informal chat and the guests, a mix of well-known people from entertainment and media, advertising and business, finance, law and medicine (SRK?s doctor was there too) made the most of his mood. Khan preened and performed, argued and defended while answering a range of questions on his personal life, fatherhood, his health, celebrity status and the tyrant called Brand SRK. He flirted with the ladies in the audience, seamlessly becoming a romantic dreamer like Rahul or Raj, names of his most memorable characters. A few seconds later, he would hold forth on the lack of sporting culture in the country and why cricketers had it tougher than stars. One of the few performers who can easily blend irony with celebrity swagger, he spoke about his insecurities with as much intensity as he did about the pride he had in his kids, his filmy obsessions, women friends and his bathroom as his personal haven.
Khan rolled big insights into small anecdotes, for once even standing on his chair to say something, all the while refuting that there was anything enigmatic about him. ?Why burden stars with social responsibility? Charity is personal and it should be left at that,? he told Screen?s Priyanka Sinha Jha when she asked him about his larger responsibilities towards society. Immediately after, he was the perfect chief guest as he launched the redesigned Screen congratulating everyone heartily.
If anyone doubted that this was one of SRK?s famous public acts, here is a line that may diminish that doubt. ?When I am sad and disillusioned, I keep my children awake till 2 am and pour my heart out to them telling them why I am so sad. They don?t understand anything but they hug me,? he said.
Khandom
I just say that I am reading whenever I spend time in my bathroom. I sit down, think, watch television, especially news channels. My bathroom is like a huge room. It has a big sofa, a TV. My wife has designed it because she knows I like spending time there. I like to be alone when I go back home and my bathroom gives me that space.
Maybe I look too rich to play a middle-class character anymore.
The difference between Sourav Ganguly and Shoaib Akhtar? Both have muscles but they are in different places.
Nobody should be forced to take up social responsibility. I do my job, it pays me, but with all the appreciation come expectations ? aisa karo, aisa bolo, public mein cigarette mat piyo. I think these things are personal as is charity and should be left personal.
For 20 years in the industry I have done nothing for the film industry. So I thought I should give something back. With Ra.One, I want to enhance the technology in filmmaking.
If it wasn?t for the women, I wouldn?t be half the man that I am.
Actors to hote hi jhoote hain. The fact that I have been an actor for 20 years and lasted, makes me the biggest liar in the world.
Scene and Heard
The warmth, humour, openness and candour which is created in the Adda atmosphere is very conducive to candid and honest talk. The variety of people asking diverse questions vis-a-vis one interviewer?s questions makes it much more interesting and much more fun for all.
Poonam Dhillon
Actor
I enjoyed every minute of Express Adda; it is a wonderful concept. Shah Rukh was very open and interactive. The best part was the frankness of the discussion and it looked like he had a lot of fun with everyone. It was very nicely done.
Ashok P Hinduja
Chairman of Hinduja Group India
The concept of Express Adda is foreign to me. But I am here to check it out and see how it works. I am having fun.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Filmmaker
Express Adda is a great idea; I loved it. It?s an ideal platform for exchange of ideas and helps one develop a perspective about the person in question and, in this case, it was SRK, who was so much fun to listen to. It should be a televised event. I look forward to attending many more Express Addas.
Vinta Nanda
Writer-filmmaker
Express Adda is a unique and brilliant concept. I love the fact that it is so informal, without any sermons. A great chemistry builds up between the audience and the guest with a typical adda kind of atmosphere. SRK was at his usual best, with a great sense of humour, witty, cocky and yet charming. Would like to see business leaders, sports and film personalities, maybe even interesting high-profile politicians at Express Adda.
Raj Nayak
CEO of Colors
It is a unique idea and a great concept that helps bring people from various fields together.
Fahad Samar
Filmmaker
The concept is really interesting. There?s a great sense of participation from the audience, which makes it fun. SRK was the perfect guest; someone with a great sense of humour who?s not shy to bare it all. I?m looking forward to the next Adda. Would love to see Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar as guests here, even Rahul Gandhi.
Ayaz Memon
Senior Journalist
